Fundamentals of Survey Methodology
UM-PKU Joint Institute
4 July – 31 July 2009
Faculty: Nora Cate Schaeffer Course location:
Days: Monday through Thursday |
Assisting faculty:
Review and homework lab: |
Course description: This course is about survey data and where they come from. The course examines the principal features of survey design and how they contribute to total survey error. Topics include: mode of interview, basic sampling concepts, effects of nonparticipation, issues in instrumentation, interviewing, and computer assisted data collection. Most of the course is spent reviewing research that describes the effects of features of survey design on survey error.
This course considers issues that arise before analysis of data begins. Some course assignments, particularly those about sampling, require some comfort with elementary statistical concepts and formulas. The assignments and readings require familiarity with principles of research design. The conceptual and practical tools introduced in this course may be useful in planning and executing your own research.
Lectures proceed somewhat independently of the readings. The schedule of readings given here is fixed, regardless of how much the lectures appear to deviate from the schedule. Lectures do not systematically summarize the readings.
Lectures, readings, and assignments are in English.
Acknowledgments. Faculty of the University of Michigan-University of Maryland Joint Program (JPSM) in Survey Methodology have generously provided access to lectures that they have developed for use with this textbook and some limited material based on their lectures may appear in the lecture notes and are indicated by A*@ in the slide title. Do not reproduce this material without permission from the authors at JPSM.
Handouts. Handouts reproducing the lecture notes will usually be made available. Handouts are only for the use of students who are registered in the class and may not be reproduced or distributed.
Format of the class. The lecture period will include approximately a 10 minute break and an opportunity to ask questions in Chinese of the assisting faculty.
Lab review sessions. There will be two 1-hour lab review sessions during the week to review the homework exercises. Lab will be conducted in Chinese.
Prerequisites. This is a graduate-level course that assumes that students understand statistical concepts, are familiar with principles of social science research, and are able to complete coursework in English.
Course Assignments and Requirements
Exercises based on the readings. Short exercises based on the readings will be due several times weekly. The exercises provide an opportunity for you to apply the material covered in the readings and check your understanding of the readings. Some exercises will ask you to apply concepts discussed in class to survey research in China. These exercises will sometimes be the basis for discussion during lab and must be handed in, but will not be formally graded. Individual problems will not be marked, but exercises will be classified as “acceptable” or “unacceptable.” Students must re-complete any assignments classified as unacceptable. All exercises must be completed for a grade to be assigned.
Examinations. There will be two midterm examinations that will each cover approximately half of the material in the course. Each contributes 45% to the grade.
Text
Groves, Robert M., Floyd J. Fowler, Mick Couper, James M. Lepkowski, Eleanor Singer, and Roger Tourangeau. 2004. Survey Methodology. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
Additional articles can be downloaded from the websites shown in the course outline.
Introduction to Survey Research: Course Outline
Copies of articles and book chapters other than the text are available on the class website:
http://www.disa.pku.edu.cn/lecturedown/index.php,
Look for the course called AIntroduction to Survey Methodology.@
Week 1
Monday - Tuesday: Introduction and Errors in Surveys
SM, Chapter 1, An Introduction to Survey Methodology
SM, Chapter 2, Inference and Error in Surveys
Wednesday and Thursday: Basic Sampling Concepts
SM, Chapter 3, Target Populations, Sampling Frames, and Coverage Error
SM, Chapter 4, Sample Design and Sampling Error
Michael, R. and Colm O’Muircheartaigh. 2009. Design priorities and disciplinary perspectives: the case of the US National Children’s Study. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society.
Access from here:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119411734/abstract
Week 2
Monday - Tuesday: Mode of Survey and Interview
SM, Chapter 5, Methods of Data Collection
Wednesday - Thursday: Nonparticipation
SM, Chapter 6, Nonresponse in Sample Surveys
AAPOR Standard Definitions
http://www.aapor.org/uploads/Standard_Definitions_07_08_Final.pdf
Week 3
Monday: Midterm
Tuesday - Wednesday: Survey Instruments and Questions
SM, Chapter 7, Questions and Answers in Surveys
Schaeffer, Nora Cate and Stanley Presser. 2003. "The Science of Asking Questions." Annual Review of Sociology 29:65-88. Available from my website: <http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/cde/faculty/schaeffe.htm>
Jenkins, Cleo R. and Don A. Dillman. 1997. "Towards a Theory of Self-Administered Questionnaire Design." Pp. 165-96 in Survey Measurement and Process Quality, edited by L. Lyberg, P. Biemer, M. Collins, E. de Leeuw, C. Dippo, N. Schwarz, and D. Trewin. N.Y.: Wiley-Interscience.
Thursday: Evaluating Survey Questions
SM, Chapter 8, Evaluating Survey Questions
Presser, Stanley, Jennifer M. Rothgeb, Mick P. Couper, Judith T. Lessler, Elizabeth Martin, Jean Martin, and Eleanor Singer. 2004. "Methods for Testing and Evaluating Survey Questions." Public Opinion Quarterly 68(1):109-30.
Week 4
Monday: Interviewers and Interviewing
SM, Chapter 9, Survey Interviewing
Tuesday: Post-Survey Processing and Estimation
SM, Chapter 10, Postcollection Processing of Survey Data
SIPP Quality Profile. 1998. <http://www.census.gov/sipp/workpapr/wp230.pdf>
Wednesday: Standards of Practice, Review
SM, Chapter 11, Principles and Practices Related to Scientific Integrity
The American Association for Public Opinion Research. 2000. Ethics Code. Ann Arbor, MI: AAPOR. <http://www.aapor.org/aaporcodeofethics>
Thursday: Final Exam